Metatarsal gauge



Feb. 28, 1939.

w. M. SCHOLL El AL ,1 8,651

METATARSAL GAUGE Filed Jan. 11, 1936 EW E r s Wall [aria (Pavia/l Zfa/zaomk 61 Saan.

' Patented Feb. 28, 1939 1 METATARSAL GAUGE William ,Scholl and Halworth E. Stark, Chicage, 11]., assignors to The Scholl Mfg. (70., g, I Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Application January 11, 1936, Serial No. 58,610

6 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to improvements in a metatarsal gauge, and more particularly to a gauge of the character'used in co'nnection'with a foot and a shoe to locate the position in a shoe a metatarsal gauge which is very simple and economical in construction and which may be used with great facility.

While some of the more salient features, char for the subsequent placement of a suitable pad for acteristics and advantages of the present inven- 5 supporting or strengtheningthe metatarsal arch tion have been above pointed out, others will beof a foot, althoughthe invention may have'other come apparent from the following disclosures uses and purposes" as will be apparent to one taken in conjunction with the accompanying skilled in the art. drawing, in which: Frequently, metatarsal pads and the like; are Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a metatarsal 10 placed in a shoe-by gluing the pad to -the insole gauge embodying principles of the present inof the shoe. It is therefore'desirable to know the vention. showing the same in operative position exact location in a shoe for the placement' of the ona diagrammatic illustration of a human foot. Padto properly'correcta particular foot. We are Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the aware that devices have been heretofore made for gauge in position in a shoe, illustrating how the 15 indicatingthe position'of a metatarsal pad in a location of a metatarsal pad may be indicated shoe in relation to a particular foot; but ineach in the shoe. instance of which we are aware, such devices were Figure 3 is a top plan viewof the gauge itself,

I not sufficiently flexiblein that they could not be illustrating in dotted. lines how the gauge may be p 7 .20 adjusted differently so that the samedevice-would adjusted for 'use in connection with a foot of opfunction satisfactorily'for either a left or a right posite designation. foot, and the devices were not made in a correct Figure 4 is an enlarged central vertical sec- ,position of angularity for the same reason. It is tional view through the gauge;

comparatively seldom that a metatarsal pad is Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical secplaced in a shoe with the'longitudin'al axis of the tional view taken substantially as indicated by the 25 pad paralleling the longitudinal axis of the shoe. line V-V of Figure 2, looking in the direction of Consequently, for accurate measurement, agauge the arrows, and illustrating the gauge alone. of the desired flexibility must be provided." As shown on the drawing:

With the foregoing inmin'd, it is an object of With reference more particularly to Figures 3,

the present invention to provide 'a metatarsal 4 and 5, it will be seen that the illustrated em- 30 gauge which maybe very readily adjusted to bodiment of the invention includes an elongated properly fit both left and right feet in ascertainmember or receiving shank 6 having the rear end ing the proper location of a pad relatively to a thereof upwardly turned to form a heel-engaging particular foot. part I. The forward end of the member 6 is ini- It is also an object of this invention to provide tially wider than the remainder of the member a metatarsal gauge that will indicatethecorrect and has the lateral portions thereof folded under position in a shoe for a metatarsal pad with the to form a sleeve, indicated at 8. The entire memlongitudinal axis of the pad disposed at an angle ber'may be made with a simple stamping operato the longitudinal axis of the shoe. v tion, if so desired, and the sleeve 8 formed in the 46 Another object of the invention is the provision same or a succeeding operation, as may be deemed 40 of a metatarsal gauge having a portionthereof most feasible. Associated with the receiving conforming in general outline to a metatarsal member 6 is an indicating element 9 having the pad, which portion is removable'andreplaceable general outline of a metatarsal pad equipp in the remainder of the gauge in inverted position preferably integrally, with a measuring shank l 0 so that the gauge as a wholejwill fit both right designed to fit within the aforesaid sleeve 8 with 45 I and left feet. I I I p i 1 sufficient frictional contact to hold its position Still another object of the invention is the pro against accidental displacement in the normal vision of a metatarsal gauge arranged for associhandling of the instrument. ation with the foot of a'user todetermine the cor- The shank l0 carries a suitable measuring scale rect position of the metatarsal pad relative to that on each side thereof so that the scale will be foot," and which may also be inserted in a shoe visible on the underside'when the device is placed and'substantially the outline of the pad traced against the bottom of a users foot, and visible from the gauge onto the insole of the shoe with from the top side when the device is laid in a an ordinary marking implement. V shoe. The forward edge of the sleeve 8 functions 5 It'is a further aim-of the invention to provide as a constant line from which to read the scale.

It will be noted that the element 9 is preferably formed with its main longitudinal axis disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shank I and member 6. In other words, the element 9 is disposed in the position that a metatarsal pad more frequently assumes when placed in a shoe. With reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that the element 9 together with its shank l0 may be completely removed from the sleeve 8, inverted and reinserted in the sleeve so that the device may be readily adjusted to fit either a right or placed against the sole of the foot, as seen in Figure l, with the heel engaging portion 1 extending upwardly over the heel of the foot. The element 9 together with its shank i0 is slid inwardly or outwardly relatively to the sleeve 8 until this element is properly seated beneath the ailliction. The entire gauge is" preferably constructed of sufficiently thin metal to permit the gauge to be fiexed in accordance with the longitudinal arch of the foot so that the indication will be accurate. v

The.- gauge is next inverted and placed in a shoe, as indicated in Figure. 2,. with the heel engaging part 1 extending upwardly-and resting against the rear of the heel counter of the shoe, the setting of the shank l8. relatively to the sleeve 8 not. being altered. The gauge is held firmly in position on the insole of the shoe, anda suitable marking implement, such as the pencil H, is used to mark the outline-of the-element 9- directly upon the insole of the shoe, giving substantially a complete outline for the location of the metatarsal pad. Thegauge may be next removed from the shoe and ametatarsal. pad glued or. otherwise affixed to the insole of the shoe in the proper location so indicated.

It the gauge is set for a right foot and it is desired to. measure a left foot, it is a simple expedient to withdraw the element 9' together with itsv scaled shank Hi from the sleeve ii, invert the element and reinsert it in the sleeve, whereupon the gauge is set for the. left foot; The above outlined procedure may then begone through in connection with the, left foot and the proper indication will be had in a left shoe for the disposition of the metatarsal pad.

From. the foregoing, it is apparent that we have provided a highly efficient, accurate and easily operable gauge forascertaining the correct position in a. shoe for the placementof a foot-correc ti-ve appliance. It. will beenoted that the gauge is very simple inconstruction, maybe economically manufacturedis light, flexible, and extremely durable.

We are aware that many changes m'ay'be'made and numerousdetails of construction may be varied through. a wide rangewithout departing from. the principles of this invention,;and we, therefore, do not purpose: limiting. the patent granted hereon otherwise than is necessitatedjby the prior art.

We: claim as our. invention: i

1 A gauge for locating a foot correctionc'appliance, including a heel engaging part having a. shank, and an element having the general outline of a correction appliance and also having a shank, means on one of said shanks for adjustably receiving the other shank, the main axis of said element being disposed at an angle to the axis of its shank, and said element being engageable with the other shank in inverted position to adapt the gauge for use with both left and right feet.

2. In a gauge of the character described, a relatively fiat member having an upturned portion to engage the heel of a foot, said member having a sleeve thereon, and an element of the general outline of a correction appliance having a shank slidable in said sleeve, said element being withdrawable from said sleeve, and reinsertable in inverted position to adapt the gauge for use with both right and left feet.

3. In a gauge of the character described, a pair of relatively adjustable elements, one arranged to engage a heel, and one having an element thereon of the general outline of a correction appliance with the main axis thereof disposed at an angle to the remainder of the device, the last-said element being engageable with the other element with either side uppermost.

4. A gauge for use in transferring toa shoe a point. located when the gauge is firstapplied to the human foot to indicate the desirable position in the shoe of a foot correction appliance, said gauge comprising a first elongated member having a portion thereof arranged toengage the heel of'the human foot, a second elongated member adjustably connected with said first member and provided. with an element thereon of the general outline of an elongated correction appliance with the major axis thereof disposed inclined at a. fixed angle. to. the-longitudinal axis. of said second member, said second member being arranged. adjustable at will relative to said first member to. incline the major axis of said element. to the. right and to the left, respectively, of the longitudinal axis of the first member.

5. A gauge. for use in transferring to a shoe a point located when the. gauge is first applied to thehuman. foot to indicate the desirable position inthe shoe.- of a footcorrection applianice, said gauge comprising. a first elongated member and a second elongated memberin adjustably connected relation, said second member having an integrally formed terminal portion shaped to define the, general outline of an elongated correctionappliance. with the major axis thereof disposed. inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said first member, said second. member being arranged adjustable at will relative to said firstv member to incline the major axis of said terminal. portion to: the right and to the left, respectively, of the longitudinal axis of said first memberf 6. A gauge for use. in transferring to a shoe a point. located when the gauge is. first applied to the human foot to indicate. the desirable position in, the shoe of. a footcorrection appliance, said gauge comprising. an elongated member provided atone end thereof with an. elementshaped to-define the general outline of an elongated correction appliance with its major axis disposed inclined at a fixed angle to the longitudinal. axis of said member, said element having a width substantially less than that of the human foot to which it is applied whereby said member is adapted to be applied tothe right foot and to the left foot, respectively, with said element in adjusted: obverse and reverse position, respectively.

WILLIAM M. SCHOLL. HALWORTH STARK. 

